Official News topic

[LegendZilla]

Mark Carney is set to become my country's next prime minister. Let's see if he can stand up to Trump.

[Spirit Ghidorah 2010]

Trump reiterates, uh I mean, re-jokes to acquiring Canada, Greenland while next to NATO chief

This joke has been tunneled into the ground so far that it's swimming in the lower mantle.

[Jomei]

Jonathan Swift was being literal, too, not making a point. That's why Irish babies will be served as a British delicacy this weekend.

The rhetorical jab of this 51st state business is to point out the extent to which (in Trump's view) the US is subsidizing Canada and its economy through current trade arrangements. (I am not saying this is true; I am paraphrasing the point of view.) To him, this is only sustainable if Canada becomes part of the US, thus making such investment more worthwhile. But Canada becoming a state is unrealistic for so many reasons. In fact, it's the absurdity of the argument that emphasizes the perceived unfairness of the current arrangement: Trump's saying we take care of you as if you were a state, yet you're not reciprocating. So, join up or pay up.

In a big ask/highball style negotiation maneuver, you request or raise something way more than what the other side will want to concede, and more than you expect to get, thereby greasing the path toward something lesser that they also might not love, as they'll prefer that half-measure to the big, scary ask. Trump has been openly using this tactic for decades. He has also openly admitted playing the "They might think I'm just crazy enough to do it" card, allowing for strategic ambiguity that makes the interlocutor second-guess calling his bluff.

Thus, 51st state gets negotiated down to [whatever more US-beneficial trade policy], which is what I suspect Trump actually wants.

Of course, I could be wrong. And if someone takes my bet, I'll have to wear the clown makeup if Canada ends up forcibly annexed. But I think nobody actually believes it will happen, and they just want to clutch pearls rather than commit to their prediction.

[miguelnuva]

Of course, I could be wrong. And if someone takes my bet, I'll have to wear the clown makeup if Canada ends up forcibly annexed. But I think nobody actually believes it will happen, and they just want to clutch pearls rather than commit to their prediction.

Jomei just because something is likely not to happen doesn't mean the fear isn't justified because arguably the most powerful man in the world keeps joking about annexing Canada. Trump likely won't try to just take Canada because of the international backlash but his mo is to keeping joking about things until they become acceptable with his base. I don't think he can take Canada but I also don't doubt if there was a way for him to take it by force he wouldn't.

[Legion1979]

And again, him and Musk are still doing a ton of other shit that IS actually happening and activity hurting people.

We haven't even gotten started with seeing just how far these idiots will go. Jomei, I can't shake the feeling you think everyone's reaction to this insanity is funny and you're trying to see how far you can push this before a mod or admin tells you that you've crossed a line. There are actual Canadians in this thread telling you this isn't a joke, and it just keeps going.

[Jomei]

I'm literally just trying to show you guys another angle on the Canada subject that might calm your nerves a bit. But then you get people like miguel who say that it's fine to have fears totally out of proportion to the likelihood of something happening. Well, sure, you're entitled to feel however you want. But there are any number of possible and scary events that, with proper analysis, end up being rather unlikely and, thus, maybe not worth losing sleep over. Recently, South Korea accidentally bombed some of its own territory, and north Korea warned this kind of thing could spark nuclear war (not an unfair critique). Freak accidents like this, even ones that could trigger bigger events--although still unlikely--seem arguably more plausible simply through human error than the US seizing Canada against its will. Are you aware of what north Korea's protocols are in the event they believe they are threatened? It wouldn't be pretty. But what are you all more concerned about?

I'm not saying have zero concern. I'm not saying not to criticize Trump for the rhetoric or for the economic policies. But when so many in the thread are panicking way out of proportion, acting as if their lives are in immediate danger, I do want to inject a little counterbalance. And again, I'm not saying Trump is right or any of these things are good. Something can be bad without it automatically leading to the worst catastrophe. Catastrophizing is a thing.

You'd think people would be willing to hear reasoning as to why things might not be as bad as they feared. But to the contrary, it almost feels like people prefer to wallow in a state of misery and terror, dismissing anyone who says the sky probably isn't falling as "gaslighting."

[Spirit Ghidorah 2010]

Trump says his vow to end Ukraine's war in 24-hours was 'sarcastic'

Sarcasm and jokes. Those are the things the leader of the free world should be slinging out during times of economic instability, class divide, and social upheaval.

Clearly this is dictator Zelensky's fault because he said "JD" instead of "Your honorable excellency" while not wearing a suit.

[Legion1979]

Fuck Donald Trump.

[Breakdown]

And his army of brainwashed slaves will clap and go along with it.

[Mac Daddy MM]

I'm literally just trying to show you guys another angle on the Canada subject that might calm your nerves a bit. But then you get people like miguel who say that it's fine to have fears totally out of proportion to the likelihood of something happening. Well, sure, you're entitled to feel however you want. But there are any number of possible and scary events that, with proper analysis, end up being rather unlikely and, thus, maybe not worth losing sleep over. Recently, South Korea accidentally bombed some of its own territory, and north Korea warned this kind of thing could spark nuclear war (not an unfair critique). Freak accidents like this, even ones that could trigger bigger events--although still unlikely--seem arguably more plausible simply through human error than the US seizing Canada against its will. Are you aware of what north Korea's protocols are in the event they believe they are threatened? It wouldn't be pretty. But what are you all more concerned about?

I'm not saying have zero concern. I'm not saying not to criticize Trump for the rhetoric or for the economic policies. But when so many in the thread are panicking way out of proportion, acting as if their lives are in immediate danger, I do want to inject a little counterbalance. And again, I'm not saying Trump is right or any of these things are good. Something can be bad without it automatically leading to the worst catastrophe. Catastrophizing is a thing.

You'd think people would be willing to hear reasoning as to why things might not be as bad as they feared. But to the contrary, it almost feels like people prefer to wallow in a state of misery and terror, dismissing anyone who says the sky probably isn't falling as "gaslighting."

It might have to do with the fact you keep you throwing out stuff after stuff that directly conflicts with what Trump has said and what he wants to do. I'ma guess that's the reason nobody here is treating you serious/even reading your stuff.

[Jomei]

snip

You'd think people would be willing to hear reasoning as to why things might not be as bad as they feared. But to the contrary, it almost feels like people prefer to wallow in a state of misery and terror, dismissing anyone who says the sky probably isn't falling as "gaslighting."

It might have to do with the fact you keep you throwing out stuff after stuff that directly conflicts with what Trump has said and what he wants to do. I'ma guess that's the reason nobody here is treating you serious/even reading your stuff.

Yeah, it definitely seems like some of you aren't reading, so I'll agree with you there. Some people prefer to sidestep arguments and just try to bait or meme. I guess we'll just come back and see whose way of interpreting things was better at predicting reality in a few months, kind of like the election. Blue wave, blue Pennsylvania, Harris dominating in Iowa, WW3, Canada annexation. Not that it will prompt any self-reflection or revision to prior assumptions. I should change my username to Sisyphus if I'm going to keep posting in this thread.

[LegendZilla]

Colorado Governor Jared Polis is raising the Canadian Flag at the State Capitol to celebrate March 15 as Colorado Canada Friendship Day.
https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colo ... ndship-day

I wonder if they'll get into trouble with the Trump administration.

[Mac Daddy MM]

snip

You'd think people would be willing to hear reasoning as to why things might not be as bad as they feared. But to the contrary, it almost feels like people prefer to wallow in a state of misery and terror, dismissing anyone who says the sky probably isn't falling as "gaslighting."

It might have to do with the fact you keep you throwing out stuff after stuff that directly conflicts with what Trump has said and what he wants to do. I'ma guess that's the reason nobody here is treating you serious/even reading your stuff.

Yeah, it definitely seems like some of you aren't reading, so I'll agree with you there. Some people prefer to sidestep arguments and just try to bait or meme. I guess we'll just come back and see whose way of interpreting things was better at predicting reality in a few months, kind of like the election. Blue wave, blue Pennsylvania, Harris dominating in Iowa, WW3, Canada annexation. Not that it will prompt any self-reflection or revision to prior assumptions. I should change my username to Sisyphus if I'm going to keep posting in this thread.

I mean, Fox News never shuts the fuck up when it comes defending/praising the man so a lot of us are just kind of used to ignoring MAGA bootlicking.

[Handsome Shrek]

Likewise, CNN and MSNBC won’t shut the fuck up about hating Trump. Media bias is a thing on both sides

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And his army of brainwashed slaves will clap and go along with it.

“Brainwashed” is an adjective that I could use to describe the extremists on the Left too

[Legion1979]

“Brainwashed” is an adjective that I could use to describe the extremists on the Left too

Enlighten us, please.

As far as CNN and MSNBC not "shutting the fuck up about hating Trump"...get out of here with that shit. The man deserves all the hate he's getting for all the digusting things he's doing to this country and the people living in it. He's a revenge-motivated, addled old monster who is thriving on the support of the ignorant and stupid while he burns bridges with all of our allies and tanks our economy.

The hate is 100% justified. Fuck Trump.

[Jomei]

It might have to do with the fact you keep you throwing out stuff after stuff that directly conflicts with what Trump has said and what he wants to do. I'ma guess that's the reason nobody here is treating you serious/even reading your stuff.

Yeah, it definitely seems like some of you aren't reading, so I'll agree with you there. Some people prefer to sidestep arguments and just try to bait or meme. I guess we'll just come back and see whose way of interpreting things was better at predicting reality in a few months, kind of like the election. Blue wave, blue Pennsylvania, Harris dominating in Iowa, WW3, Canada annexation. Not that it will prompt any self-reflection or revision to prior assumptions. I should change my username to Sisyphus if I'm going to keep posting in this thread.

I mean, Fox News never shuts the fuck up when it comes defending/praising the man so a lot of us are just kind of used to ignoring MAGA bootlicking.

I'm no Fox News watcher, so I'll take your word for it. But I think you (and several others in this thread) have lost the ability to distinguish between a reasoned perspective you don't want to consider and "bootlicking" or "gaslighting."

What you're doing is employing a thought-terminating cliché in the form of an outgroup-delegitimizing epithet. This is a method typical of groups like, say, Scientology. When they encounter someone who questions their beliefs, they are trained to quickly dismiss them with an epithet to invalidate their argument: "Suppressive person." By invoking the term, you free yourself from the need to consider or even read (as you admitted) the opposing point of view. You attack the person instead with a pre-loaded delegitimizing epithet, and now you feel like that person is an enemy simply trying to confuse you or push for evil.

This helps solidify ingroup/outgroup mentality while protecting against and stigmatizing critical thought about the group's beliefs. It shuts down thought before it can begin.

[Breakdown]

snip

You'd think people would be willing to hear reasoning as to why things might not be as bad as they feared. But to the contrary, it almost feels like people prefer to wallow in a state of misery and terror, dismissing anyone who says the sky probably isn't falling as "gaslighting."

It might have to do with the fact you keep you throwing out stuff after stuff that directly conflicts with what Trump has said and what he wants to do. I'ma guess that's the reason nobody here is treating you serious/even reading your stuff.

Yeah, it definitely seems like some of you aren't reading, so I'll agree with you there. Some people prefer to sidestep arguments and just try to bait or meme. I guess we'll just come back and see whose way of interpreting things was better at predicting reality in a few months, kind of like the election. Blue wave, blue Pennsylvania, Harris dominating in Iowa, WW3, Canada annexation. Not that it will prompt any self-reflection or revision to prior assumptions. I should change my username to Sisyphus if I'm going to keep posting in this thread.

Let me make myself perfectly clear here. I have zero interest in debating you or anyone MAGA or MAGA-adjacent. I don't care about your "different" angle. Full stop. I said this explicitly several pages back.

I have absolutely zero interest in engaging in civil debate with fascists and their enablers. I straight up do not care. I have close friends and family who are women, LGBTQ, and non-white. Their wellbeing matters more to me than the feelings of right wing snowflakes. That's all I'll say since I've already been put on notice, and probably for the better.

This is genuinely a battle between good and evil, and evil must be defeated or destroyed wholesale. No compromise, no discussion, no bipartisanship. And you've chosen your side, and its become painfully obvious to literally almost everyone here. Have a nice life.

[MC_Lovecraft]

Two important things to keep in mind, and major reasons why I think any kind of military action against Canada is vanishingly unlikely, is Trump's extreme personal cowardice and his bone-deep racism. It's one thing to order the bombing of brown people a million miles away, but fighting people who look "like us" and are from places he's been? I think that's a bridge too far for him.

[Jomei]

Let me make myself perfectly clear here. I have zero interest in debating you or anyone MAGA or MAGA-adjacent. I don't care about your "different" angle. Full stop. I said this explicitly several pages back.

I know. Even though I'm not "MAGA" or "MAGA-adjacent," I'm clearly a Suppressive Person. Bootlicker. Gaslighter!

This is genuinely a battle between good and evil, and evil must be defeated or destroyed wholesale. No compromise, no discussion, no bipartisanship. And you've chosen your side, and its become painfully obvious to literally almost everyone here. Have a nice life.

It's always handy in life when you make a point and then someone volunteers to step up and illustrate it so beautifully. Thank you for your service in Dumbledore's army, the Avengers, whatever.

I legitimately feel bad that you're experiencing this level of fear and cognitive dissonance. You won't believe me, but I am trying to help you see that things might be ok. But the sympathy fades a bit when you talk like this. Have a good life indeed, peace, etc.

[Legion1979]

Two important things to keep in mind, and major reasons why I think any kind of military action against Canada is vanishingly unlikely, is Trump's extreme personal cowardice and his bone-deep racism. It's one thing to order the bombing of brown people a million miles away, but fighting people who look "like us" and are from places he's been? I think that's a bridge too far for him.

But here's the thing. Whether Trump does anything or not, he completely FUCKED America's relationship with Canada. We just lost our nearest ally because of Trumps big, fat mouth. The damage is done.

Also, for the seniors in the back...FUCK TRUMP.